Let me show you today how to sell nothing and become a millionaire in the process with legal pornography.
You won’t believe this absolutely hilarious story I heard while listening to one of the podcasts that was downloaded on my I-pod during my most recent sync.
The podcast was of a financial expert radio show (like those Suze Orman “can I afford it or not: sessions on TV). So a caller calls into the show to raise awareness of a new scam that is going on out there.
Apparently there are some crooks out there advertising a naughty magazine for sale. So you have all these men ordering these magazines that come well covered in brown bags at a cost of $34.95.
Now I haven’t checked the current market rates for XXX magazines, but $34.95 for a multi-year subscription sounds steep? I wouldn’t know 😉
Problem is that after placing an order, the well intentioned customer never receives his (or her) mag. Instead they get an apologetic letter in the mail saying they’ve run out of magazines.
Included with the letter is a refund check printed on a high quality vanity check with some naked women printed all over it. Now what is exactly wrong with that?
Well the guy that called in is embarrassed to take the check to his bank. The check indicates void in 30 days instead of your standard 90 day notice. So do you see what’s going on here?
The smart crooks are banking on the fact that the customer will be too embarrassed to take the check to the bank to cash it in. So in 30 days when the check goes void, the crookster will just have made $34.95 for free!
Forget finding the cure for cancer, I thought this was absolutely genius. Totally wrong, but absolutely hilarious. I am rolling as I am typing this up.
The solution is to obviously deposit it via ATM, but can you imagine the reaction of the poor teller who now has to sort your checks out and deposit them?
What a concept! I’d give this legal pornography scam a four out of five stars. What about you?
Note: I don’t know what legal pornography is (I am thinking Playboy magazine). The title of this post simply reflects my best interpretation of the scam.
Sunil
Not Genius
I could never do that because I have to be proud of what I do. I would never enjoy spending money earned in that way. I don’t condemn others, but my values would stop me.
oh totally – I just thought the story was darn funny and creative thus wanted to share…no limits to the extent crooks go 😉
This story is just awesome, Sunil haha!
A great way to catch money with ease 🙂
All my best,
Marco Famà
Fotografo freelance a Torino
I know – totally funny I couldn’t get over it all day. I don’t understand a thing on your website but you’ve got some really cool pics
Hi Sunil,
Its a funny srory alright. I dont think I would lose $35 just because looks I would get fro the bank teller. I will post the check to the bank with instructions to pay into my account or simply put up a bold face. Embarrassing but I’ll get my money back. Crooks can go any lenght it seems.
You are one determined cookie Cyril 😉
I would definitely get to the bank as well!
But the funny thing is: this is for real, a story of success 🙂
Marco
As a scam is brilliant. But it’s a scam. I wouldn’t call it genius and I wouldn’t give it any star.
I’m sorry, but a scam is a scam. There’s no business here. Only fraud.
Cristina, I know and agree with you..
I think we are all someway simply having fun of what happened 🙂
Of course, a scam is a scam and should somehow punished – or at least, reported so that noone in the future pays for more subscriptions.
but… I guess it’s just for fun, you know!
Marco Famà
Time Lapse Italia – Founder
I agree with you Cristina, and Marco is right – just having some fun. This is totally fraudulent to say the least, but no less creative. I meant genius from a scamming perspective. After listening to the story I didn’t know whether I should have been laughing or crying!
Don’t worry guys, I know it’s for fun 😀
Man, I jumped on your blog this morning thinking I would find some pics 😉
that’s a great story!
Well now I know exactly how to lure you in buddy 😉
Hi Sunil,
I guess this scam may teach banking institution to include a clause for not allowing pictures in any form to be included on the checks.
d’you know that I was totally surprised these things could happen in US? In Italy no way you can do this! 🙂
Marco
Time Lapse Italia – Founder
Well, at least Italian’s are free from this embarrassment! I think, banks must have some globalized standards in practice.
There are Tauseef when it comes to “more substantive” matters such as money laundering / bank secrecy act, but I doubt on the way checks appear as long as the basic standards are followed.
hmmm interesting proposition Tauseef. I like it in some ways, but what about their marketing folks who live and breathe these ideas? I can sense an internal war brewing
I agree, but marketers must ensure (at least) that the avenues they seek are not explicitly unethical.
This was done deliberately to scam people of their money
Legal Pornography? Sounds new to me, IMO, most pornography are illegal 🙁 quite confusing.
Legal Pornography? I hope it’s never going legal. Embarrassing for my money? I use ATM machine. I guess this another scam. poor people
A variation of this was used for a scene from Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels where the main protagonists were brainstorming ways to make money fast in order to pay back a huge poker debt to a local gangster.
Guy Ritchie’s version was a little bit more risqué, let’s just say, but it was the same basic idea.
Welcome Cathy. Not heard of the title but sounds intriguing (poker + guns). Will check it out.
Simply Genius ! But wrong 🙂
Exactly! Now only if the genius can be applied better…
That is one surprisingly effective, if diabolical, money-making plan. Here’s hoping more companies don’t decide to follow a ’embarrass the customer into not cashing our refund checks’ business model.
I know right…wonder what business school this clown attended…